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Friday, 25 September 2009

Rachel's Wedding

This is today's Belfast Telegraph article -- I've included a couple of my own photos as well.

In Pictures: I’d Do Anything star Rachel Tucker gets married

By Maureen Coleman (Belfast Telegraph)Friday, 25 September 2009

Rachel Tucker was married at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast

As wedding entrances goes it was pretty theatrical.

But when the star of the show has showbiz in her blood it was never going to be conventional.

Blushing bride Rachel Tucker — who rose to fame on the BBC show I’d Do Anything — arrived at St Anne’s Cathedral yesterday half-an-hour late for her marriage to theatre producer Guy Retallack.

Well-wishers outside the cathedral heard them before they saw them. Rachel’s father Tommy, a well-known entertainer on the cabaret circuit, stood up in the open-top Rolls Royce to bang a tambourine and sing I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl).

The crowd clapped and cheered as Rachel, helped by her father, stepped from the car. Dressed in an ivory beaded halterneck dress with a long train, the West End star looked radiant as she stopped to pose for photographers.

As Tommy disappeared to shake hands with onlookers Rachel called him back again to walk her up the aisle.

“I’m already half-an-hour late, let’s go,” she told him.

The bridesmaids, sister Margaret Kelly and sister-in-law Christine Kelly, wore full-length coral gowns while Rachel’s little niece Kellyann O’Kane was dressed in an ivory beaded dress. Margaret, who runs a hair salon called Cabaret, is also a singer and performed with Rachel several years ago on Michael Barrymore’s My Kind Of Music.

After summonsing her father to her side Rachel walked into St Anne’s and down the aisle towards Londoner Guy.

His best man was his brother John Retallack while the ushers were Guy’s friends Jonathan Silver and Rachel’s brothers John and Tommy. Rachel’s nephew Ryan Kelly was the page boy.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph outside the cathedral an emotional Guy said he couldn’t wait to get married.

“A lot of my friends and family have come over from London today,” he said.

“I’m not nervous, just really excited.

“I absolutely love the venue. The wedding was always going to be in Belfast and we couldn’t have found a more perfect place.

“I can’t wait to see Rachel. I know she’s going to look beautiful.”

Among the 130 guests who attended the afternoon wedding were four of the ‘Nancy’ finalists from I’d Do Anything — Ashley Russell from Scotland, Samantha Barks from the Isle of Man, Kerry girl Jessie Buckley and Niamh Perry from Co Down.

Also there were celebrity wedding planners Ant and Dick, who helped organise the big day. Niamh and Jessie both sang Ave Maria at the ceremony while the choir from Little Flower — Rachel’s old school in north Belfast — performed On Eagles’ Wings.

Rev Timothy Close officiated at the wedding.

Samantha Barks, dressed in a long purple gown and matching shrug, said she was delighted to be back in Belfast.

Samantha, who came third in the television talent show, was in the city recently to star in Cabaret and was back over again to celebrate Niamh Perry’s 18th birthday.

“We were all doing the show when Rachel got engaged to Guy so we feel like we’ve been on this journey with her.

“I know she is going to look amazing and we’re all thrilled to be here for her today.”

Ashley added: “We came over for her big day simply because she’s our good friend.”

Following the ceremony the bridal party and guests headed to the Dunadry Hotel for the reception.

3 comments:

Aww :D I saw this today in the paper :) my music teacher brought it in for me, knowing i'd want to see it :Lbeautiful dress :Di'll be walking past st annes tonight getting off the bus :) really lovely church!